Jordan Smith of Smith House Company walks through why structural engineering is a non-negotiable part of his design-build process. Working primarily on custom homes in Austin, Texas, he brings engineers in early — during the schematic design phase — to head off costly surprises before anything gets built. The conversation covers how engineering shapes decisions around large window openings, steel columns, cantilevered overhangs, floor truss systems, and HVAC coordination. Engineering costs range from a few thousand dollars to $40K or more depending on complexity, but Smith argues the investment reduces liability, improves quality control, and makes real-time field decisions far less speculative.

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